rulers

noun

plural of ruler
as in monarchs
one who rules over a people with a sole, supreme, and usually hereditary authority the aging ruler agonized over the choice of an heir

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rulers Oft referred to as the king and queen of Italian wine, Barolo and Barbaresco can truly reign together as co-rulers, especially when produced by those with a foot in each appellation. — Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 2 Aug. 2026 For most of history, order was imposed from above because rulers did not trust ordinary people with power. — Keith Krach, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2026 Wallen, Urban and Rhett share the distinction of owning the eighth-most rulers of all time on the Country Airplay chart. — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 Late last year, archaeologists recovered a cache of early medieval weapons from a lake in west-central Poland — relics believed to be connected to the country's first rulers. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 16 July 2026 Since overthrowing the Assad dynasty, Syria’s new rulers have struggled to exert control across the country and to check extremist groups. — ABC News, 3 July 2026 For 28 years and counting, Venezuela’s rulers have stolen or squandered much of the oil revenue of the most oil-rich country in the world. — Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026 The practice, many legal historians believe, dates to the 1600s and 1700s, with European rulers encouraging migration to the expanding American colonies. — Julie Watson, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 Woody and Buzz have survived sadistic neighbors, evil toys and tyrannical daycare rulers. — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rulers
  1. monarchs
  2. kings
  3. emperors
  4. sovereigns
Noun
  • According to the World Wildlife Fund, the overwintering areas covered by monarchs this year increased by 64 percent.
    — Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026
  • Opinions on voluntary abdication by reigning monarchs vary amongst the royal families of Europe, but there is precedent in Belgium.
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026
Definition of monarchs
Noun
  • The ushabtis were believed to accompany the kings to the afterlife in order to perform manual and agricultural labor on their behalf.
    — Noraldin Jadat, Christian Science Monitor, 27 July 2026
  • He is loved as kings are loved, for their power and for their benevolence, and also for their distance.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 24 July 2026
Definition of kings
Noun
  • Various polls have shown most people are open-minded about female emperors.
    — Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • Even the richest emperors of the past did not have the ability to satisfy their whims that is now possessed by any student in Chicago or Berlin or Kinshasa.
    — Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
Definition of emperors
Noun
  • As one of the big three ratings agencies, alongside Fitch and Moody’s, S&P Global plays a crucial role in determining whether African sovereigns and businesses can secure capital from international financial markets.
    — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 29 July 2026
  • Some sovereigns have succeeded in extracting millions of dollars in refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by filing false tax forms.
    — Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 July 2026
Definition of sovereigns

Browse Nearby Words

ruler
rulers
rulership
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Cite this Entry

“Rulers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rulers. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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